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German Studies Major

Achieve fluency in German language, literature and culture—spanning disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and through firsthand experience studying abroad.

As a German Studies major or minor, you will become fluent in German language, literature and culture.

You will study across disciplines, learning about German history, literature, fine arts, music, cinema, international relations and architecture. Expand your studies through associated humanities and social sciences courses.

Become well-versed in everything from philosophers Nietzsche and Marx and the writings of Rilke and Kafka to WWII and the Holocaust and European Union issues.

Students are encouraged to study abroad and live in Oldenborg Center for one year. Many receive Fulbright grants or other prestigious international opportunities after graduation.

The program is coordinated with the Scripps German department and has joint activities with the Pomona Russian program.

Prof. Friederike von Schwerin-High explains what makes the German Studies major at Pomona special.

In class with Professor Hans Rindisbacher

In class with Professor Hans Rindisbacher

What You'll Study

Advanced conversation

Courses in German culture, society and politics

Composition and creative writing

Great works of German literature

Senior thesis or exam

5

Five days a week you have the opportunity to attend the German language table during lunch at Oldenborg Center.

Learning at Pomona

Schönbrunn Palace

Andi Chaloult '20 studied Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, which she describes as a "baroque beauty."

Heidegger’s Notion of Eigentlichkeit

Edie Harris ’13 researched the German existential philosopher Martin Heidegger's notion of Eigentlichkeit in connection to Zeit as it appeared in 20th century literature, particularly the work of Swiss author Max Frisch.

Andi Chaloult '20

I'm grateful to continue my German studies at Pomona, because my classes dive into German literature, history and culture. I find it very special to understand and discuss these topics in a native-speaking environment — original, non-translated texts preserve authors' tones.

Faculty & Teaching

Our German Studies professors’ expertise is wide-ranging, including topics like the emergence of a new Europe, linguistic representation and neuroscience, history of perfumery, and theories of otherness in 20th-century fictional biography and gender studies. Your knowledge of the German-speaking world will be expanded by their diverse interests and enthusiastic teaching.

"I’ve seen how summer research allows students to gain command of an area in their chosen discipline, and carry the confidence and excitement from that experience forward in their undergraduate careers and beyond."